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Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Restoration

Q: What Causes Hair Loss?

The reasons for thinning hair and hair loss are varied and depend on factors such as your age, hormone levels, genetics, and overall health.

Most individuals who are in decent general health lose somewhere between 50-100 strands of hair per day as part of a normal process. While shedding hair falls out, healthy individuals will at the same time experience new hair regrowth so there is never an imbalance and the hair remains at its usual thickness. In individuals that are affected by significant hair loss, the number of hairs shed each day is much larger and the effects are noticeable as new hair does not grow in to replace the hair that was lost.

Genetics are the leading cause of permanent hair loss. The terms male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness refer to hair loss that is caused by heredity factors. Unfortunately, these conditions cannot be altogether prevented, since your genetics are the root cause of the issue. This type of hair loss is usually a gradual process that occurs over time and results in a receding hair line, thinning hair or hair miniaturization, and complete baldness in some areas.

Other factors that can contribute to hair loss include medication, stress, injury, and even diet. For women in particular, hormones play a leading role in hair loss. Times of hormone changes or imbalance such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can cause women to suffer from hair loss. Thyroid disorders can also cause issues with hair loss in some individuals.

Q: What are My Hair Replacement Options?

Treating hair loss will depend on your individual condition. If you are beginning to notice thinning hair, preventative measures can help prolong the process and keep your thinning hair from becoming worse. Using topical solutions and treatments such as Rogaine are popular options for individuals seeking to prevent further hair loss.

There are also some medications available that can help address hair loss; however these offer no guarantee of working for every individual and must be prescribed under the care of your physician.

If you have already experienced significant hair loss or baldness, hair transplantation is the most effective and only permanent treatment option. Once hair is transplanted, there is little to no maintenance required on your part, as the new hair will take root become part of your normal head of hair.

Q: What is a Hair Transplant?

Hair transplants have been performed by trained doctors since as early as the 1950’s. The original method used for hair transplantation is known as Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS) or the “strip method”. With this method, doctors remove a strip of healthy hair from a donor site on your body that is resistant to hair loss, such as the back of the head. The donor site is sutured and will heal over time.

Once the strip has been harvested, the doctor will divide the strip into small hair growth unit grafts and then surgically place those grafts onto the area of thinning or baldness. This allows hair follicles to adhere to the recipient site and fill in the area to create a fuller, healthier head of hair.

Since the start of hair transplantation, newer methods for harvesting and transplanting hair follicles have evolved. Today, the most popular method is the Follicular Extraction Method, also known as Follicular Unit Transplantation.

Q: What is a Follicular Unit Extraction?

The Follicular Unit Extraction method is an innovative transplant option for individuals who do not qualify for or prefer to avoid the Follicular Unit Strip Surgery method discussed above. With the FUE method, individual hair follicles or natural groupings of follicles are harvested from a healthy, donor site on the individual’s scalp. Using a precise surgical tool, these hairs are extracted, leaving only a tiny, round hole behind. The extraction areas will heal within 10 days of the procedure, without leaving any scarring or noticeable changes.

Once the surgeon has extracted a sufficient amount of hair follicles, the recipient site will be prepped for transplantation. The harvested follicles will be carefully placed into the scalp area affected by thinning or baldness, creating a natural looking head of hair.

This method of hair transplantation is highly preferred by both patients and doctors due to the natural results it produces as well as the efficiency of the process. Unlike the traditional strip method, the FUE method allows doctors to harvest more hairs in less time and allows the patient to reap the results without worrying about scarring or other unsightly issues that can sometimes accompany strip transplantation.

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